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Competition in the indoor trainer market is about to get more interesting as Garmin announced today (February 12, 2019) their plans to buy Tacx the Dutch makers of connected indoor training systems and software.

“Tacx brings an entirely new product category to Garmin’s fitness portfolio that expands our reach into the indoor training market,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin president and CEO. “Together with Tacx, Garmin will offer a seamless, enjoyable and motivating indoor and outdoor experience for cyclists
all year long.”

Totally makes sense, doesn’t it? Might as well keep all our cycling tech in the family, right? Tacx seems pretty happy with the sale as well.

“We are excited to have the support of a technology leader like Garmin,” said Koos Tacx, CEO of Tacx. “With Garmin’s extensive R&D capabilities and global distribution network, we look forward to working together to further enhance our indoor training products and technologies, and bring them to cyclists around the world.”

Garmin is bringing 4G LTE to the wrist with the all new vívoactive 3 Music – connected by Verizon . This new version of the vívoactive GPS smartwatch gives users a 24-7 connection to text messages, music downloads, and “incident detection” without having a phone along. As if that’s not all, the watch features five day battery life, Garmin Pay, and can be worn swimming or in the shower. Here’s how they’re pitching it:

“The vívoactive 3 Music with 4G LTE connectivity gives you everything you need from your phone – safety features, text messaging and the ability to download and listen to music – now on your watch, so customers can leave their phones behind with confidence,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “Designed for customers who lead an active lifestyle, we’re excited to introduce these new safety and communication features to the Verizon-connected vívoactive 3 Music to give added peace of mind on the go, so leaving your phone at home can be a choice instead of a cause for panic.”

We’re kind of hoping they bring this same functionality to the Edge 520. How epic would that be? Fingers crossed. For the official word from Garmin, please follow the jump.

It’s funny to think of Garmin’s new Instinct GPS adventure watch as “affordable” when it weighs in at $299, however compared the $799 fenix 5+ it’s a downright bargain. The Instinct, which comes in three colors (Graphite, Tundra and Flame Red) is bursting with G-shock flavor and features a new fiber reinforced polymer case shape that visually differentiates it from the fenix while still keeping the familiar five-button layout. It doesn’t have built-in mapping, music storage, or Garmin Pay like its big brother, but it will handle the cycling, running, hiking, and swimming (not that any of us swim) tracking just fine: cadence and speed with sensors (ANT+ or bluetooth) sure, power, nope. For the official word from Garmin, please follow the jump.

Garmin’s smartlight system gets an urban/trail boost with the new Varia UT800. The new light has five modes and is visible during the day from one mile away. And when you run it with a new Edge cycling computer Garmin says it will “automatically adjust its beam intensity based on speed and changing light condition.”

“As leaders in cycling technology, we are excited to introduce the Varia UT800 to our line of innovative Varia cycling awareness products,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “With five different light modes, whether riding on the streets or the trail, the Varia UT800 smart headlight shines brighter for longer allowing cyclists to ride with greater confidence.”

We’ve ridden with an earlier version and it worked well. For the official word (and a photo) from Garmin, please follow the jump.

For 2017 Garmin and turned up their team sponsorship and now officially sponsors five world tour teams and four mountain biking teams. Which teams exactly? Here you go: Cannondale-Drapac Pro, Movistar, Astana Pro Team, FDJ Pro Team and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka. On the mountain bike side they’ve got Trek Factory Racing, CLIF Pro Team, CUBE Action Team, and Scott-SRAM.

“Garmin started sponsoring professional cycling teams nearly a decade ago, and we are excited to continue our commitment to the sport,” said Jon Cassat, Garmin vice president of communications. “As a leader in cycling technology, we are proud to provide the teams with top- of-the-line products – from GPS bike computers to cycling awareness accessories and multisport GPS watches – for training, racing and adventure in between.”

Garmin will be outfitting the teams with Edge cycling computers, Varia radar-equipped tail lights, plus Forerunner and Fenix GPS smartwatches all around. Kind of makes us want to get on a world pro team, you know, for the smart watches. . . right?

Garmin’s top-of-the-line multi-sport watch the fēnix 3 just got a high fashion sibling that looks more a Breitling Chronliner and less like a bloated Forerunner. Sure, the new fēnix Chronos still does all the cycling things that the fenix does. It can pair with your ANT+ power meter, cadence/speed sensors, and heart rate monitor and upload it live to Strava (when paired with a smartphone). It also keeps track of routes,compassing, altimeter, and temperature changes, but this one comes in titanium, steel, and steel with a vintange leather band.

“High-end design meets top-tier performance with fēnix Chronos,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “With luxurious materials and trusted Garmin multisport technology, fēnix Chronos is a necessary timepiece for anyone who wants to remain stylish through all of life’s adventures – whether its hiking through mountains, training for a race, or heading to a formal event.”

As you might have guessed all this fancy comes at a price. The fēnix Chronos titanium with titanium band will cost $1,500 (more than twice the cost of the previous top of the line fēnix 3); fēnix Chronos steel with stainless steel band $1000; and fēnix Chronos steel with leather band will cost $900. The price does include a silicone sport band for when you want to get it sweaty.

We’ve called the fēnix 3 one of the best bike computers you can wear on your wrist, and Chronos looks even better. For the official word from Garmin, follow the jump.

Garmin just added a new “do pretty much everything” GPS watch to their fitness line up that comes in a smaller, lighter, sleeker package than their top of the line fenix 3 (the watch André Greipel wears while winning Giro sprints). The watch is an update of their Forerunner named the 735XT.

“The Forerunner 735XT is the ultimate GPS smartwatch for athletes who want dialed-in data for training and race day,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “It offers comprehensive data for all of their activities, keeps them connected with smart features including notifications and automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, and lets them customize their device to fit their needs with Connect IQ’s free apps, data fields and more.”

But the coolest feature of this watch is a live suffer score right there on your wrist.

The Forerunner 735XT is Connect IQ compatible and is the first device to come with the Strava Live Suffer Score app pre-installed. Suffer Score is based on users’ heart rate and tells them how hard they’ve been working. So whether a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, if their heart is working hard they can rack up a high score.

So there, knock yourself out and then show your friends. For the official word from Garmin, please follow the jump.[click to continue…]

Garmin’s just announced Varia Vision takes all their cycling metrics and puts them right in your face on a heads up display.

We have a vision for a safer riding environment for every cyclist. A world where cyclists can keep their focus up while staying aware of their stats and surroundings. It’s one more way we’re helping you be better than you were the day before.

Still not sure we like having anything that distracting right in front of our eyes and blocking a third of one eye’s vision, but we’ve not ridden with it.